Automatic train-pipe coupling.



R. A. .FONTAINE.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION IILED MAR. 31, 1909.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

MN y N M Clttownu,

I "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. FONTAINE, F MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TOLEONARD W. ANDERSON, OF ROCKYMOUNT, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31. 1908. Serial No. 486,943.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

useful Automatic Train-Pipe Coupling, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic couplings for steamand air pipes such as are used on railway cars.

The object of the present invention is to provide a yielding frame tocarry the coupling heads, which frame is free to move relative to thedrawhead of the car, whereby strain on the coupling due to curves anduneven places in the road will be effectually eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of couplinghead which will operate to automatically form a tight joint with itsfellow, to positively prevent leakage.

With these and other objects in View, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel details of constructionand arran ement of parts, hereinafter fully described and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in whichdrawings Fi ure 1 is a side elevation of one of the coupTing members.Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of thetwo members in coupled position.

The two members comprising the coupler are identical in structure, inview of which a description of one will suflice for both.

One of the coupling members is carried by one of the cars, and theother. couplingmenr her by the other car, the relative position of thetwo members being such that when the cars come together and are coupled,the

steam and air pipes are automatically coupled.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 denotes the drawhead ofthe usual car coupler. From this drawhead depends a bracket whichcarries the hereinafter described pipe coupling. The bracket comprisesbars 7 whlch are securely bolted or otherwise secured to the drawhead 5,and

by braces 10 secured at one end to the lower ends thereof, and at theother end to the bars 7.

The steam, air and signal pipes of the car are indicated at 11, 12 and13 respectively. Inasmuch as the coupling members of said pipes areidentical I will proceed to describe only one of such members.

At 14 is indicated a plate which is carried by the bracket heretoforedescribed. From the bars 7 of said bracket project arms 15 from whichthe plate 14 is suspended by means of chains 16 or other suitableflexible connections. From the rear face of the plate .project stems 17which extend through the openings 9. These stems are connected to theplate 14 by means of a ball and socket joint 18. Each stem, adjacent tothe plate 14, carries a collar 19, and coiled around the stembetween'this collar and a washer 20 on the stem, is a spring 21, thewasher 20 being loose on the stem, and engageable with the dependingportion 9 of the bracket. The stem 17 projects a short distancerearwardly from the part 9, and on said projecting portion is made fasta collar 22, and loosely mounted a washer 23. Coiled around the stembetween this collar and washer is a spring 24. The stems 17 work looselyin the openings 19 and slide rearwardly therethrough when the plates 14of the two coupling members come together, the springs 21 serving totake up the shock of the impact. When the two members are uncoupled theplate 14 is pushed forwardly by the springs 21, the springs 24 beingprovided to serve as buffers, and to lighten the sudden jerk whenuncoupling. The last mentioned springs also cause the plates 14. to pullevenly apart when the cars are on a curve, or when one drawhead ishigher than the other.

Inasmuch as the plate 14 is suspended from the bracket by a flexibleconnection 16, it will be seen that the plate is free to moveindependently of the drawh'ead, whereby all strain on the coupling dueto curves and uneven places is effectually eliminated, and as the guidestems 17 are connected to the plate by a ball and socket 'joint, thismovement of the plate is not interfered with by said stems.

From the face of the plate 14 projects a stem 25 which terminates in atapered portion 26. The plate is also provided with an opening 27. Theopenings 27 of the re- 5 engages-a similar gasket carried by the stemthe coupling devices carried by said plates.

The coupling devices of the pipes ll, 12 and 13 are identical 111 viewof which only one of such devices will be described. Said couplingdevice comprises ahead 28 which is rotatably mounted in an opening inthe plate 14. The head is also adapted to slide in Saidopening. Theconnection between the head and the pipe is made by means of atubular'stem 29 extending at one end into the usual flexible hose 11connected to the pipe, and fastened therein by an ordinary hose clamp30. The opposite end of the stem 29 is enlarged as indicated at 32. The

head has a central bore to receive the stem 29 and also a counterbore inwhich the enlargement 32 is received. The enlarged end of the othermember of the coupler, whereby a tightjoint is had between the two stemswhen they come together.

The face of the head 28 is formed with a projecting hook 34 and alsowith a groove 35'. The hook 34 is adapted to engage the groove 35 of thehead of the other coupler member whereby the two heads are securelylocked together. The locking together of the two heads is effected bypartly rotating the same. The rotary movement of the head isautomatically* imparted thereto when the two heads come together, bymeans of studs 36 secured to the plates l4 and projecting into theopening in which the head works, the head being formed on opposite sideswith spiral grooves 37 into which said studs extend; \Vhen the two headscome together they are pushed rearwardly in the openings of the plates14, and arethus given a rotary movement by reason of the engagement ofthe studs, with the spiral grooves 37, whereby the two heads are coupledtogether by the engagement of the hooks 34 with the grooves 35.

To the rear face of the plate 14 is secured a frame 38 provided withopenings through which the stems 29 loosely extend. The

stems are provided with grooves 39 on diametrically opposite sides, andinto these grooves extend pins 40 carried by the frame 38, the functionof the pins and grooves being to prevent'rotation of the stems. Betweenthe frame 38 and the rear end of the head 28 a spring 41 is' coiledaround the stem 29. The urpose of these springs is to move the hea s 28into position to engage each other when uncoupled, and also to assist 1nuncoupling. These springs are compressed when the two heads cometogether and therefore also serve to press the same together and thusform a tight oint between the gaskets 33.

The operation of the coupler will be apparent from the foregoingdescription, but it may be summarized as follows: \Vhen two cars cometogether, the. two heads 28 strike each other, and automatically locktogether through the means already described. Vixen the carsareuncoupled, the plates 14 are pulled apart whereupon the heads 28 arerotated in the opposite direction, and disengaged from each other.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In an automatic pipe coupling, a bracket carried by the car, asupport for the ends of the pipes, a flexible suspension deviceconnecting the support to the bracket, guide stems projecting from thesupport, and having a sliding connection with the bracket, a universaljoint between the stems and the support, and yielding means opposing themovement of the support in the direction of the bracket. 1

2. In an automatic pipe coupling, a bracket carried by the car, asupport for the ends of the pipes, a flexiblev suspension deviceconnecting the support to the bracket, guide stems projectingfrom thesupport, and having a sliding connection with the bracket, a,

universal joint between the stems and the support, an abutment 011 thestems, a spring coiled around the stem between the support necting thesupport to the bracket, guidestems projecting from the support, andhaving a sliding connection with the bracket, yielding means opposingthe movement of the support in the direction of the bracket, a

universal joint between the stems and the support, and a tapered stemprojecting from the face of the support and said support having anopening to receive the stem of the support of the other coupling member.

4. An automatic pipe coupling,each member of which comprises a supporthaving an opening, a head connected to the pipe, and

rotatably and slidably mounted in the.

aforesaid opening, said head having a groove and a hook, the groove ofthe head of one of the coupling members being engageable by the hook ofthe headof the pipes, a flexible suspension device conother member uponrotation of the heads,

and means for automatically rotating the heads when they are broughttogether. 5. An automatic pipe coupling, each member of which comprisesa support having an opening, a tubular stem carried by the support, towhich stem the pipe is connected, a coupling head mounted on the stem,and

working rotatably and slidably in the aforeby the hook of the head ofthe other member upon rotation of the heads, and means for automaticallyrotating the heads when they are brought together.

6. An automatic pipe coupling, each member of which comprises'a supporthaving an opening, a longitudinally grooved tubular stem carried by thesupport to which stem the pipe is connected, pins carried by the supportand entering the groove of the stem to prevent rotation thereof, acoupling head mounted on the stem, and workin rotatably and slidably inthe aforesaic opening, said head having a groove and a hook, the grooveof the head of one of the coupling members being engageable by the hookof the head of the other member upon rotation of the heads, and meansfor automatically rotating the heads when they are brought together.

7. An automatic pipe coupling, each member of which comprises a supporthaving an opening, a tubular stem carried by the support to which stemthe pipe is connected, an enlargement at one end of the stem, a couplinghead having a bore to receive the stem, one end of said bore beingenlarged to receive the enlarged end of the stem, and said head workingrotatably and slidably in the aforesaid opening, and having a groove anda hook, the groove of the head of one of the coupling members beingengageable by the hook of the head of the other member upon rotation ofthe head, and means for automatically rotating the heads when they arebrought together.

8. An automatic pipe coupling,each member of which comprises a supporthaving an opening, a stud on the sup ortprojecting into the opening, anda coup ing head connected to the pipe, and rotatably and slidablymounted 1n the aforesaid. opening, and having a grooveand a hook, thegroove of the head of one of the coupling members bein engageable by thehook ofthe head of t e other member upon rotation of the heads, saidheads being also provided with a spiral groove which is entered by theaforesaid stud, whereby the heads are automatically rotated when brou httogether.

9. An automatic pipe coup mg, each member of which comprises a supporthaving an opening, a tubular stem carried by the support to which stemthe pipe is connected, said pipe being exterior-1y grooved on oppositesides, a frame carried bythe support and-having openings through whichthe stem passes, pins carried by the frame and entering the grooves ofthe stem, a coupling head mounted on the stem, and working rotatably andslidably in the afo'resald opening, said head having a groove and ahook, the groove of the head of one of the members being engageable bythe hook of the other member upon rotation of the heads, and means forautomab ically rotating the heads when they are brought together.

10. An automatic pipe coupling, each member of which comprises a supporthaving an opening, a tubular stem carried by the support to which stemthe pipe is connected, a frame carried by the support and 7 havingopenin s'through which the stem passes, a coup ing head mounted on 'thestem, and working rotatably and slidably in the aforesaid opening, saidhead havin a groove and a hook, the groove of the hea of one of thecoupling members being engageable by the hook of the other member, meansfor automaticall rotating the heads when they are brought together, anda spring coiled around the aforesaid stem between the frame and thehead.

In testimon that I claim the fore oing as my own, I rave hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' ROBERT A. FONTAINE.

